School board awards solar contract

SIMCOE COUNTY - A company has been awarded the contract to install up to 105 rooftop solar power systems at the schools and buildings owned by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB).
AMP Solar Group of Port Credit will build, finance, own and operate the project on a 20-year contract. The SCDSB will receive a licensing fee based on the area of rooftop space used.
Potentially, the solar systems may generate about seven megawatts of power per year. This could translate into an annual lease payment of $1 million a year to the school board.
The suitability of each school or building to support a solar panel installation will be conducted by AMP Solar in the coming months.
“This agreement will benefit Simcoe County’s public education system not only as a revenue generator, but also a teaching tool for our students,” said John Dance, superintendent of facility services, SCDSB.
“Our schools are very active on the ‘green’ front and learning about solar power generation on their own schools’ rooftops will help reinforce the environmental education curriculum.”
All solar projects are administered under the Ontario Power Authority through the Ontario Ministry of Energy. If AMP’s application is approved, the local project could commence in the fall of 2013 and be completed in the spring and summer of 2014.